Jun 21, 2011

I made it to Ashland again this year. Last year was an introduction to a new riding style for me. I came away wanting to expand my riding. It's the urge to be progressing. To learn something new. I have to admit that doing 100's has kind of become stale. I still love it, but I needed a new challenge. I guess that is why they call it the Ashland Mountain Challenge.

This year I went out with a different bike, a full face helmet and more time in the air than ever before. I prepared by riding pumptracks and venturing to the Shenandoah Valley for long descents. Still I knew that I was less then sharp for an event that required more than bike handling skills. Being hit twice by cars, almost exactly two months apart and a team switch kept me off the bike more than desired. Still...What could I do?

I went, I hammered, I took my game up another notch. Hit my first 20ft gaps, led people through sections that I needed a lead on last year, rode a train with 10-15 guys with world class pedigree. I tried to be smooth in the corners, I tried to follow the lines of former world champions. I asked Abigail Hippley to lead me into those big gaps in front of these bike aces. She nailed all eight, I cased (but cleared) three while she got cheers for doing what no one else would. I followed her through the last three gaps, including a creek gap. I'll take that.

Mount Shasta in the background.

That guy in the blue...Ross Milan. He won the 4x national championships last year, works for Yeti, and is a super guy.

We turned the Santa-Cruz van into a post race dance club.

Sport-truck waiting to pounce. Now that I think about it, it kind of reminds me of Ross.

Waiting for the Santa-Cruz van to turn around and bring me my computer. Thanks Abby and Ariel!

Race'n bike

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Worker Bee

Level 2 IMBA ICP (International Coaching Program)
Level 2 MBIT (Canada Certification for Skill Coaching.)
Bringing years of experience as a professional mountain biker to you and yours. I live in Philadelphia PA. Currently race for SantaCruz Bike and specialize in endurance mountain biking as well as endurance downhill races.
I've raced all over the world, competed in dozens of 100 mile races, one world championship, nine multi-day stage races and dozens of other events from 45 minute downhills to 24hr races.
In that time I've seen strong athletes wither in the trails as their bodies and technical skills fail them. My goal is to take riders and athletes into the woods and work with them to become more confident, efficient and stronger riders.